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The Herb Walk Interview with Kelly Green

This episode of The Herb Walk Podcast is very close to my heart. I have had the pleasure of being friends with Kelly Green, COO of Refugio Altiplano, for almost 15 years. We met as neighbors on a 5 acre piece of land outside Watsonville, California when I was a graduate student at Five Branches University. Who knew all these years later he would be the proprietor of Refugio Altiplano, a Natural Healing Medicine Center in the Amazon jungle in Peru.

Please Feel Free to Contact Us With Any Question you may have.

We are an alternative healing retreat center specializing in Amazonian plant medicine and Shamanic wisdom. Since we began our mission in 1996, guests have been joining us from around the globe to experience our authentic and guided ayahuasca ceremonies, which are designed to help individuals achieve personal and spiritual growth and development. Refugio Altiplano is located on over 1200 acres of pristine rainforest located 1 hour by boat from Iquitos, Peru.

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Email

refugioreservations@gmail.com

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At Refugio Altiplano Healing Center, in addition to ayahuasca, we are able to provide you with herbal medicine and Shamanic diets customized to your healing needs and aspirations. Following a consultation with the Shaman, suitable herbs or plants will be sourced from our botanical garden. For more information on Plants & Diets please click here.

A Highly trained staff of Healers and facilitators

We give each guest the attention needed to process and assimilate their own experience at Refugio Altiplano.

A first class center offers private residences, house keeping and Laundry services .

Our talented kitchen crew can accommodate the dietary needs of Each guest during your stay.

Refugio Altiplano offers sacred healing rituals deep in the forests of Peru. In spite of our advanced shamanic techniques, you don’t need any previous experience to attend our Shamanic Ayahuasca ceremonies. The dosages and Shamanic work is adjusted carefully to each individual’s needs and aspirations.

Refugio Altiplano Healing Center is protected by more than 1,200 acres of wild, vibrant forests. The environment is serene, unique, private and peaceful. It is the ideal environment to practice ayahuasca shamanism and natural medicine healing.

WHAT WE DO...

In order to deliver our guests the highest quality of service, safety, and authentic healing experiences with ayahuasca shamanism, we have assembled a talented team who work at our Iquitos office, and at ‘the Refugio’ itself.

Our support staff will coordinate one of the many activities and excursionsLearn More

ACHIEVING HIGHER STATES OF BEING

The altered state of consciousness

As a shamanic healing center, we practice spiritual healing while in an altered state of consciousness. This state allows our Shaman to commune with their spirit allies, and to guide the experience of the guest so that they may achieve healthier states of being. For more information on Shamanism please click here.

USING AYAHUASCA

sacred plant medicine

In order to access these altered states of consciousness, we use the sacred plant medicine ‘Ayahuasca’. The brew is the result of the combining the ayahuasca vine and the leaves of the chacruna plant. The ingredients are sourced from our botanical garden, and we do not use any foreign admixtures. For more information on ayahuasca please click here.

The ayahuasca is considered a medicine and a powerful teacher. It is during a formal, structured ceremony that this sacrament is consumed by the Shaman and the participants. The ceremony lasts for several hours, directed by the Shaman and supervised by our support staff.

ACTIVITIES

amplify your introspection and relaxation

During the day we amplify your introspection and relaxation with a wide range of activities including; swimming, sauna, fishing, kayaking, botanical garden walk, jungle hike, village visit, floral bath etc. Activities are supervised and optional, giving you the comfort and freedom to enjoy the natural habitat as you wish.

WHO WE ARE...

In order to deliver our guests the highest quality of service, safety, and authentic healing experiences with ayahuasca shamanism, we have assembled a talented team who work at our Iquitos office, and at ‘the Refugio’ itself.

Our Facilities

Refugio Altiplano Healing Center is protected by more than 1,200 acres of wild, vibrant forests. The environment is serene, unique, private and peaceful. It is the ideal environment to practice ayahuasca shamanism and natural medicine healing.

About Us

In order to deliver our guest the highest quality of service, safety and authentic healing experience with ayahuasca shamanism, we have assembled a talented team who work at our Iquitos office and at the “The Refugio” its self.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ayahuasca

Is Ayahuasca legal?

The ayahuasca brew contains the molecule N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) which is a scheduled drug in most Western countries. Ironically, it is a chemical closely related to the brain neurotransmitter serotonin, and the pineal hormone melatonin. It is a powerful hallucinogen that occurs in many plants and animals, including humans. It is legal in Peru. It plays a central role in the spiritual and cultural traditions of the Amazon, and in 2008 was constitutionally recognised by the Peruvian government as a National Treasure.

Why do people take ayahuasca?

People choose to drink ayahuasca for a variety of reasons. Some discover the medicine while searching for a cure for physical disease, debilitating mental illness or to help process emotional trauma. Others are interested in exploring their spirituality, and the expansion of consciousness. It is commonly referred to as a holistic medicine that works on the mind, body and spirit.

Do you use any additives in your ayahuasca brew?

No. We use the traditional recipe of Chacruna leaves with the Ayahuasca vine only.

How is ayahuasca made?

What are the purgative effects of ayahuasca?

Following ingestion of ayahuasca, it is possible for you to experience a ‘purge’ in the form of vomiting and/or diarrhea. More broadly, the purge refers to the release of energy from the body in any form, which may include sweating, laughing, shivering or crying.

What is Ayahuasca Shamanism?

Ayahuasca Shamanism refers to the use of ayahuasca as a tool to achieve a modified state of consciousness in which healing can occur while the Shaman is in commune with the spirit world. For more information on Shamanism, click here.

What does medical research say about ayahuasca?

The ayahuasca brew contains the molecule N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) which is a scheduled drug in most Western countries. Ironically, it is a chemical closely related to the brain neurotransmitter serotonin, and the pineal hormone melatonin. It is a powerful hallucinogen that occurs in many plants and animals, including humans. It is legal in Peru. It plays a central role in the spiritual and cultural traditions of the Amazon, and in 2008 was constitutionally recognised by the Peruvian government as a National Treasure.

Our Center

Where is your center located?

We are located in the Loreto Region, 40km outside of Iquitos in Peru. The center is accessible only by boat, which takes 1-2 hours to travel (depending on the boat and river conditions).

Is there phone and / or internet at the center?

No. If your cellular phone is on roaming you may periodically pick up a signal, but you should plan to be out of contact while on retreat. We are happy to arrange an email to your family to confirm your safe arrival, and every few days we will go to a local village where you can use the internet cafe.

Is there electricity?

We use a generator to power El Centro and our guest houses for several hours each night from dusk. This will provide you with lighting and give you an opportunity to charge your devices.

Is the water safe to drink?

Yes. The drinking water in your house and the water used in cooking is purified and sourced from Iquitos.

Are there mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are a reality in the Amazon jungle. They are not particularly bad at the Refugio, but there population is dependent on season and water levels. The dining area and guest houses are screened for mosquitoes, and there is a mosquito net over your bed. As a precaution we recommend long pants and long sleeve shirts at night time.

Will I be served the ‘ayahuasca diet’

The ‘ayahuasca diet’ means different things to different people. We serve balanced healthy meals made with fresh produce sourced locally. The diet does not include red meat or pork, and limited use of oil and salt in cooking. We can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets, and others with notice and instruction.

In preparation for your retreat, we recommend you maintain a full balanced diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, avoid red meat, pork and alcohol.

The ‘cleaner’ your body is on arrival, the easier it will be for the medicine to assimilate with your system, and you may experience less discomfort during purging.

It is also required for you to eliminate medications from your system well in advance of arrival. This should be done safely, with the help and advice of a medical professional. Please review the Medical Advice section for details relating to medication.

What is the accommodation like?

The houses are of a very high standard. They are large, private and protected. They include an en suite Western style bathroom, with electricity for several hours each night. For more information, please read Our Facilities or check the Gallery for photos.

Health & Medical

Should I get vaccinations?

Please consult your physician. If you do choose to have vaccinations, please get them well in advance of your arrival. Most of our guests choose not to have vaccinations unless they intend to travel for extended periods of time.

Your country of origin may have a requirement for you to demonstrate you have been vaccinated for Yellow Fever or other diseases upon re-entry, to avoid inconvenience please check.

Should I take malaria pills?

There isn’t considered to be any significant risk of combining malaria pills with ayahuasca, however the pills themselves can cause unpleasant side effects. The center is situated on high land, and historically malaria has not been a problem for staff or guests at the Refugio. The best way to avoid contracting malaria is to prevent mosquito bites. Long sleeves, insect repellent and mosquito nets can all help. Consuming Vitamin B12 will give you natural defense against malaria.

Can I take ayahuasca if I am menstruating?

Yes.

Should I stop taking the contraceptive pill when drinking ayahuasca?

There is no need to do so.

Can I attend your ayahuasca retreat if I am taking medication?

This depends on the medication, but the standard answer is no. Please read our Medical Advice section to familiarize yourself with the dangers associated with mixing ayahuasca with some Western medicines and herbal remedies.

What is a 'psychedelic intervention'?

A ‘psychedelic intervention’ refers to the use of a psychedelic substance (such as ayahuasca) to ‘intervene’ on an individuals medical condition, such as addiction or a behavioral problem. Ayahuasca is known to be extremely effective in the intervention of issues relating to drug and alcohol addiction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and PTSD.

Retreat

Can I arrive in Iquitos the day the retreat starts?

No, please arrive the day before the retreat.

Are there communal bathroom and shower facilities?

No. Each house has its own private Western style bathroom. They are tiled, and include running water and flushing toilet.

Our group will meet at 11:00 am on Saturday mornings 11am the first day of each Retreat in the lobby of the Garden house hotel, located at Calle Pevas 133, 2 blocks away from the Main Plaza de Armas in Iquitos (next door to our office at 113c Callé Pevas)

Will you transport me to and from your center?

• It is required You arrive one day early in Iquitos to accommodate any flight delays and ensure You will be on time for our departurate to Refugio Altiplano

Our Groups meets at 11 am on the first day of Each retreat in Iquitos (Saturday)

• We provide transportation to our center located 1.5 hours from Iquitos by Boat

• The hotel offers airport pick up included with your accommodation

• We do not offer airport pick up , we will arrange transportation to the airport at the end of each retreat .

• We will return by 2 pm the last day of retreat

So make sure your flight is for late afternoon or evening if you choose to fly out that day .

* Our group will meet at 11:00 amon Saturday mornings 11am the first day of each Retreat in the lobby of the Garden house hotel, located at Calle Pevas 133, 2 blocks away from the Main Plaza de Armas in Iquitos (next door to our office at 113c Callé Pevas)

Peru & Iquitos

What are the VISA requirements for travel to Peru?

You do not need to pre-arrange a VISA for entry in to Peru. On arrival you will be given a 90 day VISA. This VISA can be extended at the local Consulate in Iquitos.

Can I change money in Peru?

Yes. You can change US dollars and Euros only. You can change money at the airport, or we can arrange it for you at our office. It is preferable that you arrive in Iquitos with some local currency (Sol) for small purchases, tips and incidental expenses.